"Thus it is said that one who knows the enemy and knows himself will not be endangered in a hundred engagements."
Sun Tzu, The Art of War.

Thursday, May 17, 2012

FBI and U.S. Postal Inspection Service Announce Reward for Information Leading to the Arrest and Conviction of the Person(s) Responsible for the Recent Mailings of White Powder Letters in the North Texas Area

Kevin F. Kolbye, Acting Special Agent in
Charge, Dallas, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and Randall C. Till,
Inspector in Charge, Fort Worth Division, U.S. Postal Inspection Service
(USPIS), announce a reward of up to $150,000 for information leading to the
identification, arrest, prosecution, and conviction of the person(s)
responsible for the recent mailings of letters containing white powder in the
Dallas/Fort Worth area. The reward flyer is posted below.

During the week of May 7, 2012, over 20
letters containing white powder were received by early childhood development
centers, elementary schools, and an aerospace-related business. These letters
were received in Texas and several other states. The FBI, USPIS, local law
enforcement, and local fire department hazardous materials teams responded to
each location and field screened the letters for the presence of toxins or
poisons. To date, none of the mailings have contained hazardous materials.

Each letter was sent through the U.S.
mail and featured a postmark from North Texas. It is highly likely these
letters were sent by the same person responsible for mailing over 380 letters,
beginning in late 2008, each of which contained a non-hazardous substance. This
person has sent letters to elementary, middle, and high schools; day care
centers; churches; government offices; U.S. Embassies abroad; restaurants; and
other private businesses. A sample letter is posted below.

The author has and continues to
reference subjects such as al Qaeda and the Nazi SS, which is believed to have
been included for shock value rather than to express any sincere sympathy or
affiliation. In a recent letter, he used the terms “Scooby Doo” and “triple
dealer spy” and made reference to CIA counterintelligence and FBI internal
affairs.

The sender has taken steps to conceal
his activities and prevent law enforcement from finding physical evidence of
his crimes, including his fingerprints. A flyer announcing the reward along
with possible details about the subject has been posted on the Dallas FBI
website (www.fbi.gov/dallas) and on the USPIS website
(postalinspectors.uspis.gov).

Although mail is screened for toxic
substances prior to delivery, the public is reminded to take the following
precautions should they open a piece of mail with a powdery substance in it.

1.Leave the immediate area where the
powder was spilled but keep yourself separated from individuals who have not
been exposed to the powder. Do not attempt to clean up the powder and do not
move the letter. Isolate the area where the spill has occurred.

2.Wash hands immediately.

3.Call 911 and advise them of the
receipt of the mailing.

4.Remember, all instances of white
powder in this matter have tested negative for a toxic substance. The white
powder, however, should still be handled with caution until verification of its
lack of toxicity is received.

Anyone with information concerning these
letters should contact the FBI at 1-800-CALL FBI (1-800-225-5324) or by
visiting https://tips.fbi.gov.